You don’t have to say anything else about the city . . . just say the name, and the meaning will come along. It has a great reputation for traveling, business (certain spheres like fashion), living, and so on. Some people can’t even explain why they want to go to Paris. It tempts mysteriously.

Photo by scottspaeth

In spite of the well-working PR success that the city has, there are certain groups of people, who not only want to visit Paris, but also need it.

People practicing French

No matter what courses you take, you need to visit the country, the language of which your learning. There is no better way of mastering it than hearing native speech all the time. And where  do you go to learn that language? The capital, of course. Capital cities are usually the most developed ones in the world. This means that lots of institutes are centered here, so you will have many spheres to pick vocabulary words from.

You have another plus here. Paris receives a big number of travelers annually, but not all of them speak French. As we have already gone through the snobby character of the French, they will be extremely glad to meet a tourist who not only knows the language, but also wants to improve it. The language matter is one of the reasons to visit Paris.

Make sure to download a lot of French music and read French books. They will definitely help a great deal. They will also support the communication. Talking about things the French know will make them like you even more. Plus, you will surround yourself with real Parisian atmosphere, which will allow you get the most out of your visit.

Art-lovers

The city is filled with art, and it’s not only in the museums. The architecture is all over the city, every building is an art exhibit. The stores, cafes, design hotels like Hotel Amour or Hotel Apostrophe . . . all of them form a heaven on Earth for people breathing art.

Of course, there’s the jewel, the Louvre! The best works of all times – at least, the majority – are  assembled in the halls of this museum. It’s one of the most visited museums in the world.

Other than that, there are other attractions like the Rodin Museum, Fragonard Museum of Perfume, and many many others.

Photo by batigolix

Fashion Industry

Paris is the ultimate fashion destination. Ironically, you might not see a lot of it on the streets of Paris, but the stores and studios are the leading ones in the world. Most of the famous fashion designers are from Paris, beginners come here to break their way into the industry. The only city that can compete with Paris is London. But even then, Paris is winning due to its reputation, which London can’t beat just yet.

The fashion weeks are the best time for people of fashion. The event unites the leading professionals of the industry, and this is where you should look for luck.

Parisian cabarets (yes, they don’t wear much, but when they do, they wear fashion) can be a good start for the sightseeing tour.

Food and Drinks

Food is one of the unique aspects of the city. In fact, it’s not about the quantity, but the quality. You might get a small plate of a dish that tastes incredible. This is my way of explaining why macaroons are so expensive.

Go to a mid-range restaurant and order a dish that you can’t try anywhere else. Forget about fast food (unless you’re on budget travel, of course), try real food. They have some great foods that might sound disgusting at first, just give them a start, you might like them more than anything.

Drinks are also important. Again, beer might be popular in pubs and clubs, but reserve it for Germany. Paris likes wine and cognac.

There are many great brands, try to order a new one each time. I guarantee, you’ll end up taking a few bottles back home.

Photo by Rui Ornelas

Honeymoon/Romance

You can’t avoid the idea of finding love when on the way to Paris. You just keep thinking about having the greatest romance in your life. Considering the amount of people with the same idea in their heads traveling to Paris, you have some positive chances of finding love here.

If you already have a special someone, then Paris becomes the best option for a honeymoon. And there are many activities for newly wedded couples. You can do all of the above mentioned together, from choosing the color of the macaroon at Maison du Chocolat to taking photos at the top of Eiffel Tower. You will also come across a lot of couples having their own honeymoon, don’t hesitate to initiate a conversation and start a friendship.

So, if you’re not interested in any one of these points, you should probably ask yourself why you want to go to Paris. You can naturally have your own reason, but while in the city, don’t forget to try Parisian food, learn a few words in French, go shopping, educated yourself in art, and be nice to good-looking strangers, because they might end up being your husband/wife.

Well, I would say it’s partially true. The majority of women dream about Paris. One of the reasons is the status of the city as the world capital of romance and fashion: two things women would kill for. But it doesn’t mean that men don’t have anything manly to do here. Let’s go over a few vacation ideas for men in Paris.

Photo by philippe leroyer

First and foremost, women! We’ve already agreed on the female desire upon Paris. So, if all unique and beautiful women are gathered in one place, men should consider that place as one of the best vacation destinations. It actually gets even better, women come here to find real men and romance. Dear men, you can do both of those requirements, so do them!

Think as a women, where would you go to find a prince? Las Vegas, Ibiza, Bangkok . . . women know that men go to these destinations to party and forget about it later. They don’t even keep the memories as souvenirs. Real women make smarter decisions and look in targeted places.

Another very manly activity is . . . guess . . . a bachelor’s party. The Hangover movies set a new record on the adventures, so you’ve got to catch up. Luckily, Paris happens to have the best cabarets and the best nightclubs. Again, there will be a lot of women out there having their own bachelorette party, let the competition start!

Photo by philippe leroyer

Get together with the guys, start with a nice wine-tasting tour. Turn the good mood ON and go for the nightlife.  There are many cabarets in Paris, go through the list and choose the one that corresponds to the fantasies of the day. Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse are the top ones. Moulin Rouge is more classic and colorful, while Crazy Horse is more modern. You can also try a few bars after the cabaret. Remember that the ultimate women-attracting topics are dogs, art, and traveling. These three work in the majority of cases.

So, when you come back, you need a place to rest for the night . . . or continue the party. Parisian hotels are all great and somehow the same. They all have the same Parisian style. The only difference is the level of luxury. Considering the fact that you were at bars and cabarets, the less luxurious it is, the easier check-out you’ll have.

Hotel Amour is the best option, if you ask me. It’s got the atmosphere and the style. However, make sure you have a company, otherwise the night might turn out to be a little sad.

You must also check the policies of the hotel, they might not allow gatherings at nights. You can easily sneak into your room in big hotels, but that won’t be the case with design hotels. They are too small and friendly, there is very little chance your party-army will remain unnoticed.

Photo by philippe leroyer

If there’s a chance you’ll end up paying for ruined furniture, choose from some of the  cheaper hotels.

Ok, say there are no friends getting married in the near future, what will you do? You can join real bachelor party people, make up a story and go celebrate it, or be more serous about your vacation. If you’re not a budget-traveler and are looking for some things to spend money on. Visit a few museums, attractions, and invest in art! If you’re looking for a work that will look great in your house and has the chance to bring huge profit in ten years Paris will be the place to find one.

The best art masterpieces are centered here, artists from all over the world crave to live in Paris. Speak to the locals, specialists in museums, or search the Net. The advice will come handy if you’re not well knowledgeable in art. Art and, especially your own collection of works, is a great conversation starter.

Photo by dbking

Organize your own exhibition or event if you’re an artist yourself. You may earn a quick breakthrough to the higher layers of your career.

I know this may sound too primitive, but it actually makes a difference. Do take a lot of pictures in Paris. Wherever you put them up, there’s going to be a serious female interest in you. Women like men who will agree to visit Paris without their persuasive technologies. Also, Paris is a good opportunity to refresh the wardrobe and get some stylish cloths. Interestingly, you might not see a lot of good street fashion, but there’s definitely some at the stores and boutiques.

See, Paris is not that girly. It’s not only about fashion weeks and honeymoons. There’s also a lot of great activities for men. Oh, common, there’s one great activity for men, WOMEN! It’s more than enough to make any vacation special. I guess, Paris is also a part of the men’s world.

And it doesn’t even matter if you’re a professional scientist or an illiterate in sciences. Every single item is an object of interest. Some of them are even more captivating than the best art masterpieces in the Louvre.

Photo by wisze

If you want to include such a science museum in your sightseeing tour in Paris, consider the City of Science and Industry.

This complex is huge and mega-modern. It can be seen from the exterior of the building, the gigantic bubble in particular. The bubble actually has a name, the Géode. It contains a movie theater and all kinds of other visual entertainment. You can also use it for a photo-shoot. The building, which is located in Parc de la Villette (one of the best parks in Paris), was built by Adrien Fainsilber in 1986.

The museum is unique in every way. Even the activities one can engage in are completely different of what you can expect from a regular museum. Besides the traditional guided tours, you can also see theater shows, participate in workshops, and so on.

There is no age target for visitors. It can be a child that has not seen much of this world yet or a senior citizen that has seen a lot of things back in his time. Both of them will be amazed at the collection. From the viewpoint of real interest, the museum is best suited for the youth. It’s a unique age group that is closely connected to the world of technology, and additional knowledge in science can end up with a very useful result.

Photo by Simon Blackley

Another important factor is the direction of the museum. It’s not only about science, but also about technology.

Not all science museums focus on technology enough, while science cannot really develop without it. The best and newest technologies, and those include airplanes and submarines, will specifically interest the youth.

Continuing the topic of the “biggest,” the City includes the biggest IMAX Theater. I don’t know if you’ve every been there, but the 3D technology of this movie theater is more than words can express. Those babies tear down all borders between reality and illusion.

The Planetarium is lot of fun too. The doors of universe will open and millions of stars will shine for you, well, because you’ve got a ticket, obviously. The view to space is 360 degrees, meaning you might not find the door anymore after you enter the room. The session lasts for about 30 minutes.

If you’re looking for a hidden attraction, this one should be on your list. It’s very popular among the locals. Tourists are not really interested in this museum, because of two reasons. First, there are already so many thing to explore, places that are directly related to the Parisian culture and history, like Carnavalet Museum. There are science museums all over the world, and if you come from a more or less developed country, chances are high you can find an equally fantastic science institution back home. Despite that, you will hardly find a bigger science museum in Europe . . . because this is the biggest one.

Photo by ingirogiro

The second reason is the location. It’s not in downtown, which means you will have to take the transport to get there. You have to know about the place to visit it, to take a day off from the Paris downtown and plan your way to the science world.

However, these two reasons can be very positive sometimes. First, you can’t visit museums all the time (and there are a lot of them in this city). There always comes a point when you become sick of displays and artistic ideas. A small doze of science can be a good refreshment.

Second, who said Paris is limited to downtown only? The suburbs can be as interesting as the central monuments. Moreover, the central areas are so crowded with tourists that you can hardly feel the atmosphere of Paris. People are too serious, reluctant to answer questions starting with “Excuse me, do you speak English? . . .” and much more. In terms of arrondissements, the City is located in the 19th one.

Photo by Pierre Metivier

The museum is open every day of the week except Mondays. Plus, you need to check the opening hours of all parts of the museum. Some of them have their own schedule. The library, Children’s Area, Planetarium, and others are among them.

In case of a tight schedule, you can spend around 3-4 hours here. But you will have to miss a lot of exhibitions and activities. A whole day is much better for exploring the museum. The ticket price depends on the activities you want to take part in. This is why you should do some research before visiting the site.

The City of Science and Industry is a great family attraction. You can leave your children at the special Children’s Area or take them along, inspiring them to become the future scientist who will make the most mind-blowing discoveries.

A visit to the 10^th arrondissement centred on the Canal St. Martin will uncover the real Paris, where the “Bobo” or bourgeois bohemian hipsters hang out at the charming canal-side cafes. You can sit and watch the world go by, drink incredible coffee or play mobile casino games at a site like AndroidCasino.com.au whilst you soak up the atmosphere.

The canal area was once a derelict part of Paris but now it buzzes with chic cafes and stylish boutiques and the bohemian ambience is ideal for visitors who want to stray off the tourist track. The canal is 4.5km long and connects the Canal de l’Ourcq to the river Seine with the underground running from the Paris Metro station of Bastille to Republique.

Settle at a sidewalk table at one of the many cafes like Chez Prune or Le Floreal, indulge in a cafe crème and a patisserie treat at Helmut Newcake or visit L’Epicerie Musicale to discover a hybrid cafe-bar-restaurant-music store experience that draws in the hipsters and the seriously cool.

In the rue de Fauborg-du-Temple section you will find cheap grocers, discount stores and hidden courtyards as well as hip local Parisian nightclubs like Le Gibus and La Java. The Chinese quarter of the 10^th arrondissement is located at Ste. Marthe and the locals all shop for bargains at the quirky boutiques that line the banks.

For intellectuals who enjoy discovering the cutting edge side of Paris, a visit to Parc de la Villette is in order. The major science and music museums are located here, and up and coming Parisian bands play on the lawns alongside the quays.

The Canal St. Martin is the true home to modern Paris intellectuals. It is the perfect place to visit if you want to enjoy a Sartre-de Beauvoir experience.

I decided that I wanted to find a TESOL job in Europe, as there are many opportunities and the travel costs are relatively low. I had always liked the idea of living in France as I had studied the language during college. And so, because Paris has the most opportunities to find work, I decided to move to the capital. I´ve now been living in the city of light for five months and I have truly had a great experience.

After emailing my CV to many different private language schools and public schools, I received an invite to come for an interview in person at a private language school which teaches business English to adults. It was not what I had expected, but now I am glad of opportunity.  Firstly, adults are not children, which means I haven’t had to use any of my non-existent child care or disciplinary skills. My students don´t misbehave, they always listen and always engage with the class. They have chosen to be there and that makes a difference. I always have very enjoyable, lively lessons where everyone is eager to participate.

The only issue I have found with the job itself is that the working hours can be unpredictable. I typically work 20-25 hours per week but on occasion it can drop to as low as five. However the pay is reasonable (18 Euros/hour) and in a few weeks time I am set to start a new contract teaching children at a secondary school as well. The great thing about teaching English in France is that there are many summer school opportunities at English language camps, which means that I will be able to stay throughout the summer and still find work.

I moved into a flat with another English teacher that I met at the school, which is perfect for sharing costs and living with someone who has the same interests. The working hours give me plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful city and with a monthly unlimited travel pass I can use the metro, buses and trams whenever I like. As I have to travel to work, the company also provides a partial reimbursement. I am never short of things to do in Paris with the fantastic shopping areas, nice restaurants and bars, theatre, music and museums. One of my favorite things to do is to simply sit in a café, sip on a tasty glass of famous French wine and watch Parisian life go by. The great thing about TESOL in France is that I can travel to many beautiful towns and cities in my spare time. Last weekend I travelled to the South of France to spend a few days lazing on the beach in Canne and San Tropez. TESOL in France has given me everything I wanted. To live in a foreign country, become immersed in the culture and see new places. It has also provided me with communication skills and improved personal confidence that will be useful in later life.

The occupation of Paris was a historical day (not in a good sense) and a beginning of the French nightmare. It resulted in a deportation of thousands of Frenchmen. So, apart from the entertainment and fun at the Parisian cabarets, take your time to visit the Deportation Memorial.

Photo by █ Slices of Light █▀ ▀ ▀

It’s one of the WWII sites in Paris. The monument is located in a very peaceful park, Square d’Ile de France. It’s actually very close to the Notre Dame de Paris, just behind its park.

The monument is not that modern. It was built in 1962. Charles de Gualle, the French president back then, inaugurated it. The architect of this meaningdul monument is Georges Henri Pingusson.

The job was quire a responsible one. The new building commemorates around 160,000 people. This much Frenchmen were deported to various Nazi concentration camps from 1940-1945. And Nazi camps were not vacation resorts. Half of those people were political activists and fighters. Homosexuals and gypsies were also among them. Around 75,000 out 160,000 were Jews. It gets worse once you go deeper into statistics. Only 2500 of them came out of the camps alive. Can you imagine? Only 2500 . . . I hope there’s no need to tell you what used to happen in the secret chimneys of those camps.

Photo by Eric Schaeff

It’s very easy to write numbers down, imagining the essence of the crime is much more difficult. The atmosphere of the monument succeeds to make you stop in silence and think.

You can visit the Eiffel Tower and not worry about symbolism, because the beauty of the tower is all that matters. But you can’t play the same trick here. There is so much symbolism included in the design, that you have to be familiar with the topic to understand the meaning of this monument. Otherwise, it will be a regular monument with lots of weird and useless signs.

Everything starts with descending stairs. The nearby wall bears a writing in French: “1940 Aux Deux Cent Mille Morts Dans Les Camps Martyrs Francais de La Deportation 1945.”  Here’s the translation if you’re not good at the language: “1940 To the Two Hundred Thousand Deaths in the Camps French Martyrs of the Deportation 1945.”

If you don’t mind reading, there are many information sources you can learn from before entering the monument. This way you understand the cause and the intention of the monument, which makes it really valuable.

Photo by saganorth2000

The entire monument is very similar to the model of Nazi camps. The design was done with the intention to remind the visitors about the camps. Hence, you are to feel like a prisoner yourself when you enter the monument. Everything reminds the camps . . .  the darkness, narrow corridors, etc. This is why I have to warn you beforehand. If you have claustrophobia or other fears that may be a cause for panic, it’s better to skip this attraction.

One of the features of the monument, which is often considered to be a good one, is the small number of tourists that visit it simultaneously  It’s great, because you get to have the place to yourself. You can study every single detail on your way, no suspicions on potential pickpockets hiding in the crowd, there won’t be strange French people in your photos, won’t have to worry about the time wasted in queues, but the visit can also be very scary. The complex is underground, if you add a fear like claustrophobia, it becomes painfully like a modern horror film. In other words, do have a company when visiting this place, just for convenience and safety. Oh, and I hope you’re not too scared of zombies and vampires.

You would never see poems of Robert Desnos, Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard, or Jean-Paul Sartre on camp walls. Despite the mentioned designs, Deportation Memorial is really very simple. It’s not Versailles, so you won’t see expensive decor or art. The simplicity is impressive all by itself. That’s what shocks the tourists, almost every one of them who enters the memorial.

The monument includes a special room, where every person that didn’t make it back home from the camps has his or her own light.

Photo by zakgollop

Just like the majority of impressive memorials in the whole world, these walls also contain the names of victims. Not all of them, of course, there are simply too many of them. The walls have small triangles contain the ashes of some of them.

While you can take as many pictures as you want, some devices must be forgotten about. For example, turn off your cellphone, it would be more than disrespectful to have your ringtone filling the monument. The opening hours change depending on the season.

I love sites with meanings. It’s nice to know that the building was not meant for charging tourists money, but it has a bigger, a more important message. If you’re a sensitive person, there might be a different ‘You’ coming out of the monument. But however you change, the new You is definitely going to be a better one, a person who appreciates freedom and the opportunity to safely stroll through the streets of wonderful city of Paris.

Now, we are all human, and we all get bored, even in one of the most interesting cities in the world. You’ve got to have Plan Bs and Plan Cs to keep yourself busy.

Photo by LWY

Here are a few options.

Read a Book

It’s classic, you will see a lot of people doing it. In fact, it’s not only tourists, locals like to read on their way to work and on their way back. In fact, here you have a big variety of options. If you’re traveling alone, with a modest budget, and cannot get a guide of your own, invest in a guide book. For example, if you’re in a queue to the Louvre, you can read a book or a booklet about the best art masterpieces housed in the museum. If you’re interested in a certain artist, say Da Vinci, you can read his biography and use it as a pick up line to find friends inside.

Another option would be reading a nice Parisian book on some love story. There are a few lists you can pick and choose from.

Plan Your Day

You come home after sightseeing, all exhausted, ready to pass away right there on the bed, but there are still some things to get done. One of those things is planning the next day. Now the last thing you’d want to do is open up a map. You can simply decide on a very busy attraction for each morning. Take along a map and a notepad. Plan the rest of the day while you’re in the queue.

You can win a lot of time when you know the exact place to go to and the exact time to be there.

Photo by SSShupe

Listen to Music

If you don’t want to save some level of attention and yet not get bored, listen to music.  Moreover, forget about Pitbull, Rihanna, or whatever is on your iPod or cellphone. Listen to Parisian music while in Paris. This will heat up the atmosphere and make you feel an insider.

Look around, study the people, French street fashion, sites around you . . . whatever you do, you’ve got a soundtrack in your head.

Learn Some French

Now, there are two ways of doing this. You can either grab a dictionary on you way out, or you can get an audio dictionary. Learn some French words and phrases. Generally, you will have a better time communicating with the locals and actually enjoying the process, if you speak at least some French. This might sound complicated, but I recommend you take both the audio and the printed variants. This way you will get the pronunciation and the meaning, knowing what it looks like in the meantime. And in case of French words, believe me, you will hardly recognize a word if you’ve heard it a thousand times but have never seen it.

Furthermore, you can use the fact that you’re trying to learn the language as a conversation starter, if there are any French tourists near you in the queue.

Photo by Marcus Povey

Meet Some People

Don’t be scared to talk to people. They are also new in the city, they’re also seeking adventures, and they definitely want to meet new friends as well. Some of them might also be looking for a little more than a simple friendship, if you know what I mean.

Just look around, find single travelers, they’re the easiest targets (just like yourself). Depending on the person you’re aiming at, remember or make up a funny joke and start a conversation. Do everything you can not to look creepy. All nationalities are different, and if a joke is funny in one country, it can be offensive in another one, just go with the safest joke you can come up with.

Even if you get a rude reply, you will never ever see that person again. There are just too many people on Earth.

Look Out For

Pickpockets! Unfortunately, they are everywhere in Paris, as this city among the top tourist magnets. Pickpockets might be standing in a queue, right behind you, and waiting for the right moment to crawl into your pocket. This is why, you should always have your belongings in a visible place. Never ever wear a backpack on your back when standing in a queue. It equals to an invitation for pickpockets. Take a messenger bag and wear it up front, this way you can watch your belongings.

Photo by Pete Reed

Missing your turn! Even if you’re sure that person is definitely not going to be you, some people tend to get carried away with what they’re doing. Don’t think all nations are polite. There might be an unknown tourist from an unknown country waiting for you to weak the attention so that he can jump forward. And there might be a lot of those unknown tourists, so always remember the short color of the person standing before you.

These were the best ways of spending your time in a queue. They’re all proved and tested, just find the one you can execute perfectly, without any significant losses.

Everything in Paris has history, even the dishes you try, the streets you walk, the wine you drink is soaked in unique history. Well, the city itself has a long story, which is found in one of the best museums in the world, Carnavalet Museum. It’s located in Marais, interestingly, the most historic district of Paris. It takes two very breathtaking mansions, belonging to the Renaissance style, to house the museum.

Photo by Kotomicreations

You know how Gustave Moreau Museum tells about the artist, his biography, works, and inspirations, Carnavalet Museum tells the story of Paris, from the first day up to now. That story includes very rich and exciting 3000 years.

The building , which used to house the Hotel Carnavalet, was purchased by the state council in 1866. Then, the museum finally opened in 1880.  The building itself is quite old, it was constructed in 1548.

The collection is very big, it’s actually the biggest one in Paris. The collection can be divided into layers, each one of which would present the stock of furniture, paintings, sculptures, photography, archaeology, Middle Ages, and so on. Make sure that the exhibition will be of interest to you and, therefore, not a waste of time and perhaps also money. Just check the exhibition list on their website before the visit. You can even use that information and get some background knowledge about the topic.

Photo by Kotomicreations

How many rooms do you think the history of Paris can be placed in? Not that much really . . . just a hundred and a few rooms. Each of the rooms contains items and information about a specific period and part of the Parisian history. Each room is decorated correspondingly. This way you can also learn about the interior design trends that were popular here at certain times. Although there is obviously too much luxury, everything is very elegant and tasteful here. It’s almost  talent to have too many items in a room and still make it look great. This is the case in Carnavalet. While there’s so much to see and explore, the tours are so interesting you will hardly want to miss a second of those 3000 years.

An exploration of historic interior designs might be boring in other European capitals, but only not in Paris. As it’s the European capital of fashion, everything related to design is important in this city. It’s like a whole new industry, where a lot of money, people, and hard work is involved.

You can also go through the lives and private belongings of famous Parisians, people who had a gigantic share in the making of Paris.

In addition to that, the museum offers gorgeous gardens adorned with the most beautiful plants you can ever find. Moreover, if you spend a few hours walking in the streets of Paris, you will notice how many gardens there are around city attractions. Beauty can be considered one of the obsessions of Parisians.

Photo by R. O. Flinn

Besides the nice and cute gardens, there are also other activities that come in the same package. A couple of them are Crypte Archéologique du Parvis Notre Dame and the Catacombs of Paris. Be careful, the latter is not for the light-hearted. You will see a lot of skulls and skeletons.

Finally, here’s some practical information you will need. Carnavalet Museum is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It also follows the museum rule of being closed on Mondays. There is also a nice bookshop, where you can invest in literature or get some souvenirs.

The language of the museum is very flexible. If you didn’t shine at the French language class back in high school, you can still learn a lot here, as English is also  used in this museum. If you have a hearing issues, sign language tours are also available. In a word, there is no way you can’t visit Carnavalet.

I highly recommend you visit this museum at the beginning of your vacation. There are two reasons. The first one is the Parisian history. The city has many historical buildings and attractions. Even new things end up being the representation of the old or having some retro flavors. So, you will have a much better understanding of the city when sightseeing if you visit Carnavalet beforehand.

Photo by Medelie Vendetta

The second one is the variety of displays. Carnavalet basically contains a little from everything. It can be a brief (the word “brief” can be relative, I guess) introduction to the cultural heritage. Go around and find out what exactly you like. Once you understand your attitude towards Parisian art, you can pick the right attractions later. There’s no need to go to Crazy Horse, if you’re just too interested in French history (can’t see this happening though).

Let’s finish the story of Carnavalet on a good note. The admission is completely free. Whether it’s a permanent or temporary exhibition, you get in free. If there are special lectures or workshops taking place, you might have to a get a ticket, the price of which also varies depending on the event. Considering the number of great but expensive attractions in Paris, you need to grab the opportunity and plan a trip to Carnavalet Museum.

If you’ve been saving for a budget trip to Paris, this hotel will be way too expensive for you. It’s rather for the people, who are ready to spend hundreds of Euros and have a complete blast. It’s very sad, but the reality is very sad too.

Photo by Sofitel.com

This luxurious hotel has 124 rooms, each one of which has fantastic design.  Ironically, all of the rooms have extremely long and fancy names, which don’t make sense at all (only if you’re not in the room business and know all hotel room names by heart). Here are the names: Premium Junior King Suite, Premium Junior King Suite Hot Deal No Refund, Premium Junior King Promotion Rate, Superior Queen Room, Superior Queen Room Hot Deal No Refund. So, speaking in the language of simple men, there are two main types of rooms: King and Queen. They also happen to have some variations.

In any case, all rooms are suited for couples. This aspect makes Hotel Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe a wonderful destination for honeymooners.

While the interior design is very elegant and tasteful, you won’t feel like waking up in the Louvre. In other words, it’s a typical luxurious hotel, not a type you can WOW at. For example, Hotel Amour is a WOW-type hotel, you get amazed at every step. In case of Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe, you can still get amazed, but only on “wow, that vase should cost a fortune”-type things. The author of the interior design is Andrée Putman.

Photo by Sofitel.com

The rooms include iPod docks (a great plus personally for me), there’s a laundry service in the building, and so on. The amenities are generally convenient and needed, but there’s nothing to extravagant or fresh.

The staff is very friendly. Moreover, it’s so friendly you won’t get a snobby look if you can’t speak any French.

The location is one of the best features of the hotel. This probably explains why the prices are so high here. If you stayed at a small design hotel at a certain distance from the downtown, you’d have to pay a lot for transportation. As this hotel is located in the center of the city, you can literally walk to every attraction. You will have a chance to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe right from the balcony.

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By the way, these attractions are only for viewing out of the window. The Eiffel Tower is less than a couple of kilometers away. Naturally, Arc de Triomphe is even closer. If you’re a shopaholic, consider this hotel your heaven. The best and most famous brands are within walking distance. Also, the rooms are quite big should you need space for a sea of shopping bags. Moulin Rouge is also nearby, so if you’re feeling like some music and nude dancing, you can always drop in here.

This hotel can also be targeted for business events, as they have the corresponding amenities. There is a bar/lounge and tea/coffee at the lobby. Unfortunately, there is no free parking space. You could rent out a space at a private parking lot nearby, but that would cost your wallet €30 a day. With the only exception if you’re a millionaire, this price would be the same as to have a pickpocket steal your wallet every day.

One of the great news is that pets are allowed. Your little friend can enjoy Paris the same way you would . . . well, if one could say so. Another great news is that the hotel provides disability features. In addition to that, there’s a fitness center where you can work out.

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Summing up all of the above mentioned, I think the price for a room (which is around €250-300) is just too much. True, there are a few great things you can’t find in other hotels. It’s mainly about the location, the style, and the design. However, these three are not so important. You can definitely replace them. For example, you could use the public transport, it would be cheaper and you’ll get a chance to see other arrondissements too. City downtowns always differ from the suburbs. Even people are different outside of the center.

Then, the style really adds up to the price. You know, it’s a big important-looking building with a catchy name that sounds too French. This must be worth a few hundreds. But you can still find a hotel with a style for less Euros. Finally, it’s all about the architecture and design. Now, I don’t really have anything to argue with here. There are dozens of design hotels that might not have the same exterior architecture, but do offer a stunning interior design. It’s all about understanding what exactly you want from your vacation in Paris.

There are two kinds of travelers, people who like cabarets, bars, and fun museums, and those who prefer the Louvre, attractions with a historic hints like the Arc of Triomphe, and similar sites.

So, one of the most striking features of the first group is their immense interest in wax museums. People either love them or hate them. If you’re one of the lovers, than reserve your precious time for the most famous wax museum of Paris.

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Grévin Museum is the name to remember. It’s very similar to Madame Tussauds, which is already world-famous by itself. Moreover, Grévin Museum was inspired by the Tussauds museum and opened in 1882. The main aim was not providing unbelievable photo shots (there could be a difficulty with finding an actual camera back then), it was all about time traveling. People would come in and find significant figures brought back in time.

There are around 300 wax works, not necessarily those representing celebrities. There are a lot of wax scenes telling the best stories of Parisian and, in general, French history. Some internationally significant events are also included in the list. Some of the examples are the first man on the moon and the fall of Berlin wall.

Let’s say people of every profession will find an interesting corner here. If you’re into politics than look for Charles de Gaulle or Barack Obama.

If you’re more of a cultural-oriented character, than two of the cultural legends, Marylin Monroe and Charlie Chaplin are waiting just for you. Grévin Museum is also the only place where you can call Jimi Hendrix on a music duel and win it. Spiderman won’t run away from you, you can display some moves with Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

Photo by Siadhal

There is also a film screening telling you about the art of waxing. I recommend you watch the movie after going through the majority of figures. It’s always nice to be amazed at something you don’t understand at first. Once you see the process of them coming into being, they suddenly stop being so breathtaking, because you understand the logic. Having said this, it’s also important to leave a few figures after the film. Sometimes you have to see the object in order to understand what the film explained. Just keep in mind, visit the most important figures first, let your the naive state of your mind be surprised at the similarities and architecture, let your imagination play a few tricks on you. Paris is a city of creativity and inspiration. You are more then expected to lose your mind here.

The administration of the museum have made sure your imagination gets the themes right. There are tons of visual and audio effects installed around the rooms. You might fall into an ocean or find yourself in the middle of a green forest.

The whole collection is divided into worlds, involving children interests, historical events, celebrity waxes, and so on. If you came here with a special purpose, plan your visit according to the worlds. You don’t need to enter the historical part if you’re not interested in modern times. Whatever you do, the museum promises to be more than memorable.

The founders of the museum, Alfred Grévin, Arthur Meyer and Gabriel Thomas, have opened a small cafe next to the museum in the early years of this site. That cafe is still there, ready to serve real Parisian breakfast and lunch, also dinner on weekends.

Photo by Siadhal

A Paris Pass would be a wise choice, considering you can enter 55 museums free of charge by buying one card worth around 100 Euros for two days of sightseeing. Without a Paris Pass, the ticket will cost 22 Euro, children under 14 years of age will pay 16 Euro. This museum is definitely one of the most expensive ones in the city, but it’s also one of the most original ones. The ticket price is entirely worth the cost. In addition to that, there is a worldwide tradition of making wax museums too expensive, because people love them everywhere.

There are a few other activities apart from wax-viewing. You can fool around in front of weird mirrors, see what would you look like if your head was too big for your body and so on.

The museum opens at 10:00 am and close around 7. Remember that you need at least 2 hours to walk around and get minimal enjoyment out of the collection. If you want to enjoy it completely, you will need more than a couple of hours.

If you have ever dreamed about meeting the top famous people of our little planet, this is the place to start. True, the wax figures will hardly reply back, but you will have the necessary time to take photos, observe the details, or simply stop and stare. Get a friend or, better, a group of friends, for the visit. The museum will be boring for lonely travelers. What if you meet the inspiration of your life and there’s no one around to take a photo. That’s a big no-no. You must enter the museum with a free memory card and come out completely full.